Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is our time to read and some how reenact the nativity story. We have celebrated with the Jensens for several years. They have a "book" with pictures and songs to go along with telling the story. Sometimes we act the story out but this year we used Jensen's wooden nativity figurines.
Claire was our happy narrator.

We all sang Christmas hymns.

Parker and Cameron were the nativity handlers - they delivered all of the pieces to the right places at the right times.

One by one the characters journeyed to the stable.

Will everyone make it?

Yes - all characters made it to the special scene.

Christmas Wishes from Adelaide Australia!

Too Cute - Go Dads

Temple Lights and Hot Chocolate

The Oakland Temple

Several years ago, it was a tradition of the Busath cousins to have a family night up at the temple during December. People coming and going and schedules crazy with the coming and going, we haven't been up to see the temple lights all together for a couple years. But we made it this year - with hot chocolate, doughnuts and all. This year there is a sculpture exhibit - scenes from the Savior's life. This exhibit is in the visitor's center and we made sure to include viewing the sculptures as part of our temple visit this year. Here's the brochure that advertises the exhibit. http://mormonsoprano.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/limited-exhibit-brochure_2.jpg

The group minus Mark and Claudia who were taking the picture(s).

Cousins chillin' (really warmin' - it was cold outside)

Kelly, Ryan and Garry

Evan and Jeff



Andy, Joslyn and Claire


Cutie pie Jace
Cutie Pie Parker

When you have to tie your shoe you might as well do it in good company.
Cameron, Ryan and Garry
Pretty city lights - that's the Bay Bridge and San Francisco in the far distance.
Side of the visitor's center
The multi-stake center

Holiness to the Lord - The House of the Lord

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

On the temple terrace looking over the front grounds
Time for hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme's

Grandpa Scott and Jace

Nancy, Claudia and Mark

Mari, Joslyn and Claire and some little Jensen heads

Kelly and her fancy light up lip gloss! Wouldn't want to gloss your lips in the dark (there's a little mirror on the side of the container too!) Those riding with the Hardesters started and ended their evening with listening to Joslyn and Claire singing to High School Musical 3 sound track and various Taylor Swift songs.

A zillion points to anyone who can guess what song they were singing in these pictures.

We missed everyone who couldn't join us this year. We hope Clint is feeling better. Hope you are all continuing on with your own favorite traditions. Happy 2 days away from Christmas!

Bowing Santa

Here's our bowing Santa. He spends all day like this - tired from his evening of standing so still. All the deflated blow up stuff during the day kind of cracks me up. Including our Santa.

The Snowman

This is one of our favorites especially the music.

Just a warning, it is long and haunting.

Christmas Lights

I thought I'd share our Christmas lights. Evan is our creative mind and hard worker. He put the lights up December 1st. He has finally stopped asking if we might buy some more. The blow up Santa was the last purchase. I think we have plenty of lights to last us a long time. We'll see what happens after the holiday though. Evan tells me Greg said he'd take him out to the after Christmas sales. Sounds like Greg needs a little talkin' to.

Lovely Lights Ev! Thank You!
(oh, a little blurry for you? You'd think I was driving by when I took these pictures...there are some close ups later)

Up on the House Top...

It's a deer if you can't tell. His head turns back and forth.

It's a snowman if you can't tell. He just stands there doing nothing but being cheery.

It's a penguin - and I know you can tell. His wings flap up and down, but it is barely perceptible. The penguin is in honor of Ryan's childhood love of penguins.

Can't forget the flowers. No lights but they're pretty anyway.

Maybe tomorrow I'll think to take a picture of Santa taking his day long bow from his long night of standing so happy on our roof.

Thanksgiving

I forgot I'd taken these pictures on Thanksgiving. So - here they are - Thanksgiving November 2008 at the Jensens.

Parker budding photographer.

Mari
Cameron, Clint and Jensen family friend John

Jace and Claire

Greg and Evan (and an interesting gaze from Claire)

Don and friend Shanon

Our gracious hosts Nancy and Scott

A bit of family togetherness

Mark, Claudia and Kelly came later in the day to share dessert. It was a nice day. Great food and wonderful friends and family. We can not ask for more.

It's Raining. It's Pouring.

Had word from Ryan that it is raining kind of hard in Laie. So hard that the bottom floor of his dorm started to flood. Lucky for him, his room is higher up. Too bad for those on the first floor though. And, the testing center is/was closed! Not good anytime but especially the last days of finals. He says no cars are floating away or anything like that, but he and friends did go skim boarding on the grass. He shared some pictures.

The Dorm

Ryan titled this one "Sprinkling"
More Sprinkles

This could be the skim boarding spot, but I'm not sure...

See ya soon Ry! Only two more days! (Ryan comes home Dec. 13, 9:00 pm).

A Trip to the Hygienist

I had a visit to the dental hygienist today. I have volunteered to be one of Claudia's patients. Awesome! Claudia is finishing up her first semester as a dental hygiene student at Cabrillo College. The drive over to Santa Cruz was beautiful. And the campus is so lovely situated, at least from what I could see, it seems an ideal place to go to school. Sitting in the waiting area I noticed the pictures of the graduating classes through the years. What a trip through hair history! Was a crack up. I'm sure you can imagine. The waiting area had various people, waiting for their hygienist to come get them. It was a buzz of excitement. These students ready to try their handy work. Most in the waiting room were friends or family - each for the most part being greeted with an excited hug. It was the happiest waiting room I've ever been in!

Claudia at her station. The gown has her name embroidered on it.

After the exam she rubbed this pink stuff on my teeth. Lovely!
This fabulous tool is going to make all the difference in my new dental hygiene routine!

Thanks for the OHI Claud!

Go Claudia! Go! And that goes for all of my sisters and my niece out there working at their education. Go Julie, Go! Go Sandy, Go! Go Liz, Go! All of you are so close! Keep up the good work. We're excited for all you and your great accomplishments!